(The Hill) — More than 40 million low-income food stamp beneficiaries are expected to receive less help with grocery bills — or no help at all — in the coming days.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is threatening to withhold billions of dollars in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) contingency funding, which Congress has already allocated for emergency scenarios, if the government shutdown stretches into November.

There is between $5 billion and $6 billion currently in that fund, experts say. That's not enough to cover the estimated $8 billion in SNAP benefits due in next month, but it would allow for partial payments to help low-income Americans defray food costs.

On Friday, however, USDA released guidance saying it won’t use those funds to cover SNAP benefits if

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